Smitten with Sphynx: Tri-City owners of hairless cat breed say no other pet is as devoted

By Dori O'Neal, Herald staff writer

Ever wished cats were more like dogs?

Only a die-hard dog lover would actually wish for such a thing.

But if you're one of those animal lovers who prefers a faithful hound to feline independence, then you haven't had the pleasure of socializing with a Sphynx.

On first glance, the Sphynx cat can be a little disturbing. They are hairless creatures -- well, almost hairless -- with wrinkled skin and eyes that could stare down a cobra.

In truth, they are covered with a soft peach fuzz that feels as smooth as a chamois cloth. And the lack of fur makes their skin quite warm to the touch. And talk about doglike behavior: The Sphynx cat is as needful of human attention as a beloved pup.

There aren't too many people in the Tri-Cities who own hairless cats. But a few who do say there is no more devoted pet than a Sphynx, and they are much smarter than their canine counterparts, they claim.

Shauna Samson of Pasco has three rascally boys named Odie, Ronin and Caesar. Each one has a precocious personality and as much love in their hearts as a big lumbering Lab.

"Ronin tends to be the naughty one most of the time," Samson said. "Odie and Caesar are more docile. But all three are equally lovable."

Unabashedly affectionate might be an even better term for a Sphynx. Visitors to Samson's home could find themselves the object of Ronin's friendly demeanor.

"They pick up very quickly on people who like cats," Samson said. "Ronin likes to climb up onto the shoulders of people he likes."

Samson stumbled across the Sphynx breed while researching the Internet looking for a cat to replace one that died.

"I just liked how they looked, so sleek and handsome," she said. "And I figured the fact they didn't have any hair meant the cats wouldn't bother my allergies. I think people with severe allergies might still be affected by this breed, but mine aren't too bad. Because they only have this soft peach fuzz means my allergies aren't bothered at all."

Samson got so attached to the hairless cats that she added a hairless rat named Romeo to her brood. Romeo has the face of an old man though he's only a few years old, Samson said.

He lives in a glass cage and the mischievous Ronin takes great pleasure knocking the grated top off the cage and batting playfully at Romeo, much to the rat's chagrin. Though Romeo is lovable, Samson said, he's not as playful as the other boys.

Laura Sterling of Kennewick also has two Sphynx cats. Sterling and her husband Jim added the hairless breed to the family pet roster -- which also includes two German shepherds -- about three years ago.

When her long-haired cat Mocha died, her husband didn't want to deal with all the cat hair again, Sterling said. So she did some Internet research and found the Sphynx breed.

"I was immediately attracted to their personalities," she said. Though the cats are a bit needy, like dogs, Sterling decided to bring Flash home. A year later, Streaker was added as a playmate for Flash.

"Flash is definitely the smarter of the two," Sterling said. "I'm actually getting him toilet-trained."

She uses a newfangled device that sits on a toilet so Flash can use it instead of a cat box. Streaker hasn't quite gotten up to speed on the toilet training.

Sterling's cats also know how to open doors with French handles, which can be a problem since these are strictly indoor cats.

Because of their hairless bodies, the skin of a Sphynx is quite delicate. They sunburn easily and are extremely vulnerable to cold weather.

Sphynxes also have wedge-shaped heads with sturdy bodies and are prone to develop pot bellies, though neither Samson's nor Sterling's cats appeared to have succumbed to an overabundance of belly flab yet.

"Their lack of hair means their bodies have a higher metabolism rate in an effort to stay warm," Samson said. "They eat more because of that."

The breed also must be bathed frequently because the lack of fur means they have more body oil, which is normally absorbed by fur, Sterling and Samson said. A bath about once a week is recommended.

Many people see a Sphynx and think it's a centuries-old breed that dates back to ancient Egypt, which isn't the case.

Though hairless cats have been reported throughout history, the first Sphynx breed wasn't recorded until the mid-1960s in Canada. Though details of exactly how it evolved are sketchy, it's believed it was a genetic mutation.

Samson and Sterling purchased their cats from breeders in the Seattle area. The cats can cost up to $1,500, sometimes more. But their price tag is worth it, they said.

For Odie, Ronin and Caesar, life is good playing tag with one another, running from one end of the house to the other, and having all the love and attention they need from Samson.

Streak and Flash have heated beds, a dreamy cat's playroom with all the bells and whistles, warm jammies to snuggle into on cold winter nights, and the loving arms of Sterling to run to at the end of a busy day.

* Dori O'Neal: 509-582-1514; doneal@tricityherald.com

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Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009

Smitten with Sphynx: Tri-City owners of hairless cat breed say no other pet is as devoted

By Dori O'Neal, Herald staff writer